Yes, the Lackawanna Cutoff has been the clearly-best route from Binghamton (and Cortland, and Ithaca) to NYC for a long time. Crazy foot-dragging in NJ. The counties around Scranton are really eager.
Operationally I think service should run from Hoboken via the Cutoff to Scranton, Binghamton, Cortland, and all the way to Syracuse. This has been suggested by Senator Schumer, so the idea's out there. If timed right, people would also ride north from Scranton/Binghamton/Cortland to Syracuse, and even do so to connect to Empire Service.